SF #3 impressions (spoilers) [Archive]

kenmastersX

11-19-2003, 12:28 PM

Bwahaha, I'm sure you guys saw this coming.

I went to the comic store an hour 30 minutes ago, and I was pissed that the Alvin Lee cover wasn't in stock, because whoever sold them the comics decided to screw them and sell them only cover B and replace the cover As with DONALD DUCK ISSUES. :/ I wasn't going to buy two covers, but I want the Alvin Lee cover, and I might go back tomorrow to get it.

Anyway, on with the comic. The beginning starts off with Ryu going nuts in a dojo, beating up Ken, and he seems pissed at Gouken's death. At the point of Ken being blasted by a giant Hadoken blast, it turns out all was a dream. It then goes to Gouki at Gouken's grave. (notice that the dojo is nearby where Gouken's grave is in the background) He picks up Gouki's beads off the grave, and notes about Ryu having the same dark power as Gouki.

The majority of the rest of the comic focuses on Vega, Ken, and Eliza, with a little bit of Guile and Chun Li.

Vega bumping to Eliza on purpose, and planting a bug on her hankerchief while trying to flirt with her was cool. Oh, and Tiamat will like the really small cameo of Juni, I almost didn't recognize her at first. She looks so cute in a flight attendant's uniform.

The small bit about Udon noodles was funny, to me anyway.

Eliza needs to be shown more with only a robe on. I swear, her boobs were all over the place. :D

Why did Tatamaki Senpuu Kyaku only do one hit? :p

After the Ken/Vega fight scene, the appearance of
MAJOR SPOILER

Shadow/Charlie surprised me.

Kevin Lau's backup story seems really well done. I like his take on Ken and Eliza, and Zangief not getting off a spinning pile driver kinda saddened me. But it was good nontheless.

In the back, there is an interview with the person who designed the SF website. Good stuff. Speaking of which...isn't the site due for an update? XD Also, there are two fan letters, which should answer a few questions, or just repeat what was said in these forums.

And the Cheap Shots this issue is awesome. It's better if you just see it yourself.

BE NICE TO GIRLS :lol:

Enzan

11-19-2003, 01:14 PM

i thought it was alrite
i like how akuma got his necklace
everything else was pretty cool especially ken vs vega
the backup was alrite, but i found it interesting there was no introduction to it this time.
you just flip the page and there it is.
i cant wait for the sagat and ryu rematch? next issue

and another thing
the street fighter site in the back of the book has that been updated on the interent?
cuz the site ive been going to doesnt have some of those pages or maybe i just cant find them e.g. the covers to each issues

udoneko

11-19-2003, 02:26 PM

we run into some technical difficulties with the web update. We are solving it now..... sorry for the delay....

Rhio2k

11-19-2003, 02:41 PM

I knew I shoud've made an entirely new post instead of just bumping the Spoilers/impressions thread...:(

Still beat ya by a few hours, though K.M.X. :p

Difoj

11-19-2003, 03:28 PM

how many covers are there, only 2? Because thats what my comic shop had just 2 covers and is issue 4 coming out next week already? Thats what the coming next week sign at the store said.

Rogue328

11-19-2003, 03:52 PM

My store only had two covers as well. Power foil should hopefully come out in two weeks (Bison foil cover :eek: ).

I'm pretty sure udon mentioned that #4 is coming out in December.

Vega was pretty slick with his placing of the tracer. And damn, Eliza is hot!:eek:

Ken and Vega fight was awesome. Eliza with the bitchslap on Vega! :eek: "You dare touch the face of Vega?" Anyone else notice the dizzy stars over Vega's head? Nice touch there.

Chunner looks absolutely scrumptious in her outfit.:eek:

ntk.ne0

11-19-2003, 05:40 PM

The power foil looks ridiculous, Alvin Lee covers for me only.

" OMG OMG OMG OMG SHADOW/CHARLIE OMG OMG"

But wait, I thought Blanka was Charlie?

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Now I still don't know.

CharlieNash

11-19-2003, 07:21 PM

CharlieNash=Shadow
Blanka is really named Jimmy :D
Chuck's from USA
Blanka's Brazilian

The V

11-19-2003, 08:02 PM

I just finished reading issue three and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I noticed that the Ryu "sleep-fighting" sequence appears to be inspired by the SF Alpha anime.

That Balrog/Vega is one smooth bastard. I really like how he is being portrayed, very close to how I imagined he should be.

Nash/Charlie as Shadow wasn't really a surprise for me. I read enough hints from previews and this message board to figure it out. Maybe it's because I don't play the Marvel games or it is too non-canon for me, but I don't really like Shadow being in the comic. I wonder how he beat Guile up so quickly?

The back-up story is good. Something I really wanted to see this comic do is flesh out the characters more. Giving the reader glimpses of their daily lives and more mundane problems, and this story did just that.

kenmastersX

11-19-2003, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by Rhio2k
I knew I shoud've made an entirely new post instead of just bumping the Spoilers/impressions thread...:(

Still beat ya by a few hours, though K.M.X. :p

Haha, yeah, I spotted that a few minutes after I posted. :p

Next time, just post a impressions thread for the next issue if you can beat me to it next time. ^_^

CharlieNash

11-20-2003, 05:41 AM

How is Shadow's character? Is he all zombie like without emotion or it's like a perversion/tainted version of his normal personality? And how does he look like??

kenmastersX

11-20-2003, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by CharlieNash
How is Shadow's character? Is he all zombie like without emotion or it's like a perversion/tainted version of his normal personality? And how does he look like??

He acts just like Cammy does at the moment. The way he looks is as he would look in the vs. series, and he seems to have no pupils.

CharlieNash

11-20-2003, 08:58 AM

Thanks :)
oh and did anyone have a "Oh crap check out the hair! It's Charlie!! What's happened?!" moment or he just showed up?

kenmastersX

11-20-2003, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by CharlieNash
Thanks :)
oh and did anyone have a "Oh crap check out the hair! It's Charlie!! What's happened?!" moment or he just showed up?

How about just buying the comic? jk

Anyway, he just appeared in a panel after Vega runs off. No ominious attempt at trying to hide him, it kinda killed the suspense later. :/

CharlieNash

11-20-2003, 09:26 AM

Hehe thanks I would but I'm really broke and I don't know where the heck the closest comic shop is lol tis the trouble of moving from the US to Canada :\

Carpet Lint

11-21-2003, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by CharlieNash
Hehe thanks I would but I'm really broke and I don't know where the heck the closest comic shop is lol tis the trouble of moving from the US to Canada :\
Contrary to popular belief, comic book stores do indeed exist in Canada.

Dreamwave's based in Toronto. And...UDON is too right? Or at least most of you?

Mr.Twelve

11-22-2003, 03:29 AM

Holy shit man Eliza fan service galore.:eek:

chimitaru

11-22-2003, 08:58 AM

i really liked this issue seeing juni was a definete plus the whole disguise seems to suit her design but i'm more excited to see alivn draw juli more than anything!! my only complaint about this issue is that there was no cammy this is an outrage!!!!!:mad: chun li was very sexy along with eliza which was great.

Clay

11-22-2003, 05:17 PM

Another great issue, it makes that one month wait seem sooo long. There were a lot of cool easter eggs in this issue for those who were paying attention, and of course a whole lot of fan service as well. I love the way things are shaping up. Shadow was probably able to take out Guile so quickly because Guile was too shocked/surprised to retaliate.

Originally posted by kenmastersX
Kevin Lau's backup story seems really well done. I like his take on Ken and Eliza, and Zangief not getting off a spinning pile driver kinda saddened me. But it was good nontheless.

SPD would have been cool, but if 'Gief had pulled it off, do you really think that Ken would have gotten back up? My only beef with the back up story was that it probably should not have taken place that the USMA tourney, but it's no big deal.

In the back, there is an interview with the person who designed the SF website. Good stuff. Speaking of which...isn't the site due for an update? XD Also, there are two fan letters, which should answer a few questions, or just repeat what was said in these forums.

Heh, my letter was one of the two that were printed.:D
Big thanks to UDON!!!!

4neqs

11-23-2003, 01:02 AM

Hmm.. Seeing Shadow Charlie was weird. :eek: I thought it was a vs.-games only thing, but I may be mistaken. Paging TiamatRoar, your help is need here. :D

Originally posted by Mr.Twelve
Holy shit man Eliza fan service galore.:eek:

Indeed. Eliza boobies make me a very satisfied customer. As with Vega getting his face bashed. :D

More power Udon! Keep up with the good work.

TiamatRoar

11-23-2003, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by 4neqs
Hmm.. Seeing Shadow Charlie was weird. :eek: I thought it was a vs.-games only thing, but I may be mistaken. Paging TiamatRoar, your help is need here. :D

It was. What seems to be the problem? Don't tell me that I have to give even MORE "the comic isn't canon" disclaimers...

Sano

11-23-2003, 06:07 PM

CLAY'S LETTER GOT PRINTED! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. That owns!

4neqs

11-23-2003, 08:47 PM

Originally posted by TiamatRoar

It was. What seems to be the problem? Don't tell me that I have to give even MORE "the comic isn't canon" disclaimers...

No, not at all. Just thinking aloud. Being a vs. game fan (:p ) it was a nice surprise.

TAS

11-25-2003, 12:19 PM

The Shadow/Charlie thing was cool.

Even though the comic isnt canon, its still approved by Capcom of Japan (everything UDON does with SF has to be approved by CoJ before they do it)

The thing with Shadow/Charlie makes perfect sense considering Charlie died diffirently in this comic (by the hand of Bison) and it seems very Bison like for him to make Charlie into one of his soldiers, plus it makes very well for the Guile/Charlie relationship and what it will become now that Charlie is Shadow.

Although it makes me think of the whole Sub-Zero/Smoke relationship in Mortal Kombat, when Smoke was turned into a robot and programed to hunt down and kill sub-zero.

Oh and Shadow' VS game storyline was that he and Shadow Lady were created by Bison (but that was it)

m121akuma

11-25-2003, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by TAS

Oh and Shadow' VS game storyline was that he and Shadow Lady were created by Bison (but that was it)

Which brings an interesting argument. Is this a brainwashed Charlie, or an evil clone? Just a thought.

Oh, and Issue 3 rules. It's nice to see how Bison's various agents are coming into play. And Ken is as badass as ever.

Sagatryu

11-25-2003, 07:06 PM

I'll put my Money on brainwashed Charlie.

TAS

11-26-2003, 12:20 AM

In the VS games I believe that its Charlie, but he was brought back to life using cybernetics and Bison's Psycho Power.

Although canonly/officialy Charlie cant be brought back unless he was a clone, since it seems Charlie's body was incinerated (sp?) in an explosion in SFA3.

What Ryu & Ken might look like if they were converted into Psycho Soldiers

Psycho Ryu (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Nov-2003/19747-psycho_ryu_model_sheet.jpg)
Psycho Ken (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Nov-2003/19747-psycho_ken_model_sheet.jpg)

Sano

11-26-2003, 10:36 AM

I think Nash is a little bit of both. In Issue One Vega snapped his neck. For him to survive that, he'd need some robotics or some enhanced DNA Modification of some kind. Course it happened in Shadaloo Headquarters so Nash probably got imediate Medical Attention.

zeronian

11-26-2003, 05:43 PM

damn Chun Li and Eliza look better each issue. :o

CharlieNash

11-26-2003, 06:12 PM

Cool! Udon and Dreamwave are based in Canada ^_^

On to my points, 1)Bison is a sicko who thrives on pain and suffering. I'm pretty sure Charlie is brainwashed, because it would be easier to do that than kill him and regrow as a clone.

2) plus it makes Guile suffer greatly emotionally and Charlie aint no wimp either.(No just my opinion ;) he seems like a good fighter, plus being boosted by Bison's Wheaties he's gonna kick alot of keester )

As to how he's alive, someone mentioned medical staff of Shadoloo.
One I'm pretty sure that due to Bison's resources they are highly advanced in different forms of medical and scientific repair. I haven't seen 3 yet but maybe cyber enhancements were used. Is there evidence of that?
Last point do we actually know the extent of Bison's Psycho power? Can he cause regeneration?( Maybe so but maybe just for himself: In SFIIV he was implaed by Chunli and he pulles the spiked object out without any problem and goes after her:eek:

sorry for my windbag-ness, but does anyone know when Blanka will show up?

TAS

11-27-2003, 12:18 AM

2) plus it makes Guile suffer greatly emotionally and Charlie aint no wimp either.(No just my opinion he seems like a good fighter, plus being boosted by Bison's Wheaties he's gonna kick alot of keester )

Charlie is a good fighter, he's even better than Guile. Guile actually never reached the skill/power level Charlie did, ie Charlie could throw sonic booms with one arm, and could make them come outta his legs/feet (and he taught Guile the sonic boom and flash kick)

Last point do we actually know the extent of Bison's Psycho power? Can he cause regeneration?( Maybe so but maybe just for himself: In SFIIV he was implaed by Chunli and he pulles the spiked object out without any problem and goes after her

I dont think Bison can regenerate.

And SF2V isnt official/canon, so you cant go by anything thats in that.

BBCampbell

11-27-2003, 12:21 AM

Speaking of SFIIV, is Bison's description of how Psycho Power works accurate?

He claims that Psycho Power is a metaphysical manifestation of his hatred and rage for everything. On it's own, this explanation works for me, but when you think about how Rose also uses Psycho Power....

Well, actually she uses Soul Power, which is the "good" side of Psycho Power....

And then there's Athena from KOF, but I'm pretty sure that's just a coincidence...

Ummm... anyway.... (awaits a response from sano, Tiamat or one of the other storyline gurus...)

Ryu vs. Sagat in issue 4. I'm guessing that Bison will send Sagat to Japan after Vega has failed to capture not only Ryu, but Ken as well and then he and Ryu will fight and the Satsui no Hadou will show up somewhere probably...

Shadow vs. Chun Li as well most likely...

Juli cameo? Maybe working at a restaurant, those hats Cammy and the Dolls are wearing (hmmm.... Cammy and the Dolls, sounds like a Rock group...) always remind me of the pill hats that they wear in the old style restaurants.... and Carl's Jr. in the 80s.

Or, they'll show the other 10 dolls in the glass tube they showed Cammy in in the Newtype short. Upon seeing this, Tiamat will explode. Literally. Doctors and physicists alike will be baffled.

TiamatRoar

11-27-2003, 01:05 AM

Originally posted by BBCampbell

Or, they'll show the other 10 dolls in the glass tube they showed Cammy in in the Newtype short.

Don't scare me like that.

Anyways, Psycho Power is based off of negative emotions. So hatred and rage are a pretty accurate source.

CharlieNash

11-27-2003, 05:39 AM

Lol BBCampbell that Avitar is scary lol

Does anyone have any predictions for Sagat? Will he go the game route and later become honerable? Or stay an evil cycloptic musclebag?? Will issue number 4 kick some booty? Heck yea :D

Sagatryu

11-27-2003, 07:50 AM

here's want I know from the games about Bison pyscho power.

1st: it increases his overall speed, strength and stamina.

2nd: it allows him to fly, teleport and Float in midair.

i think that's about it.

capcom never really explan what bison powers were capable of.

Giovanni

11-27-2003, 02:37 PM

He can also shoot out chi blasts with it, as well. Cover his limbs with it, and also shock people with it.

From what I remember reading, I think it's sorta like the Force, or nearly all magic/energy. Bison uses the dark side, Rose uses the light side. Sorta like Akuma/Gouken....and junk. Yeah.

Sano

11-28-2003, 10:57 AM

In Issue Zero, it remarks how at his core Sagat is a man of Honor, so I'm sure he will return to being the honorable Sagat he is now in the games sooner or later.

Using Japanese names, Vega tossed out the good side of himself and that created Rose, or this good energy affected a mother pregnant with Rose or something. (Think Piccolo from Drangon Ball Z) So Rose's Soul Power is the direct opposite of Vega's Psycho Power. Think of it as the difference between Hadou and Satsui No Hadou. After Vega's body is destroyed in SFZ3, his Soul enters Rose's body and his scientists transfer this newly combined soul with Rose's to a new body for Vega. With Vega's soul now back with Rose, he's a lot weaker in SF2 then he was in the SFZ series. Gouki kills him and the Shun Goku Satsu attacks the soul, so chances are Rose and Vega's Souls are gone for good.

Anyway, I can't wait to see how the comic handles the Vega/Rose/Psycho Power Deal!

11-28-2003, 09:42 PM

I would like to add that all of the Rose stuff is conjecture.

Finally picked up issue 3. Good stuff! I of course got the cover wtih Rose on it, even though the other one is more...street fightery. Yeah.

And I loved the "CHEAPSHOTS!" to death!

Marthor

11-29-2003, 07:01 AM

Hey Y'all!
This is my first post here.

I found out about the Streetfighter comic just last week when I saw #3 on the shelf. Luckily, my comic shop had #1 and #2 in reprints, so I was able to get all three issues. They are really good! I'm really excited about this ongoing Streetfighter comic!

I used to have Streetfighter on my old Sega System years ago. Over the last year, I discovered the wonderful Streetfighter Anime Movie and ended up buying all the SF DVDs... Series V, Code of Honor, Alpha Movie, etc. I also have picked up most of the Streetfighter/GI Joe figures from 1994 in the last year. I also had picked up SF Alpha 3 for my playstation.

So, it was really great/surprising to find issue #3 on the shelf last week! Great timing!

One thing that is peaking my interest is all this talk about official cannon? I only know Streetfighter from the DVDs, so it's very surprising when people say that's not cannon. Is there a place where I can read the official cannon? Is the Japanese and American cannon different?

Any word about new SF action figures coming for the 15th anniversary?!

Thanks!
M

BBCampbell

11-29-2003, 01:28 PM

Fan Fiction board is where YOU need to go. :D

There you'll find threads for Street Fighter and KOF. Also Rival Schools, but there's nothing there really.... Pity my sad little thread...

If you have a question, just ask.

Oh yeah, SFIIV is not canon (with one "n") neither is the animated movie, the USA cartoon, the live action movie, the Alpha OAV, nor Capcom USA. ;)

Sagatryu

11-30-2003, 11:13 PM

he also use his pyscho power to brain washed people.

BBCampbell

12-01-2003, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by Sagatryu
he can also use his psycho power to brain wash people.

Well, if you're going to go there, that only happened in the animated movie (and Bison's SFA2 ending if you consider that canon). And he did that with the help of a machine, there is no evidence of Psycho Power use at all. More like mental programming.

Sagatryu

12-01-2003, 10:03 PM

I think he did to it Ryu in SFA3.

Sagatryu

12-01-2003, 10:19 PM

Street Fighter Alpha 3: Ryu is still following the path to become a true
martial artist. What is the meaning of the "killing intent" building within
him? He continues his journey to find the answers, and new challenges.
Wavering between giving into the Satsu no Hadou or not, Ryu continued his
journey. One day, he met a lady named Rose, who warned him about a man
named M. Bison who was trying to hunt Ryu down. She tells Ryu that Ryu
must fight with his soul, and not his physical power, or else he will lose
to that man [Conjecture based off in-game storyline]. Bison finally did
find Ryu. He told Ryu that even if Ryu destroyed his body, his soul was
eternal, and that his next body would be Ryu! Ryu is caught off guard and
Bison begins to take control of him! He can feel the evil power, and
wonders if it is the killing intent Akuma told him about long ago, then
finally, his mind gives in, believing that Bison is the answer.
Eventually, however, Ken and Sakura, who were looking for him, as well as
Sagat who happened to be going there, too, arrived. Seeing what was going
on, Ken and Sakura got into a battle with Bison. Sagat, who was disgusted
by what Bison did to Ryu (by then, Sagat had realized there was more to
fighting than winning and that brainwashing Ryu was one of the lowest
things Bison could do), fought and defeated Psycho Ryu. Thanks to the
combined efforts of his friend and rival, Ken, admirer Sakura, and rival
Sagat, he was contained and he eventually overcame his brainwashing to
smack Bison, and Bison was forced to retreat, shocked that Ryu has managed
to overcome Psycho Power, because he thought Ryu would give in to Satsu no
Hadou, which Psycho Power is sister to. Ryu has realized that giving in to
the want to just win is not the way, and gives up the Satsu no Hadou,
eagerly looking forward to his future matches just to test his skills and
for the excitement of the fight [Official]. For what Ryu said to Sagat,
Ken, and Sakura after that, go see their sections:P

Street Fighter 2: Hearing about a second Street Fighter 2 tournament, Ryu
enters and participates to continue to test and hone his skills [Conjecture
based off in-game storyline]. I'd be surprised if M. Bison bothered
sending him a personal invitation, since Ryu doesn't exactly actively
oppose Shadaloo (he just fights for the fight).

it seems he didn't use a machine in this one.

Rogue328

12-02-2003, 07:32 PM

All this talk about Sagat making an appearance in issue #4, I don't know. This story arc will be 6 issues, so Sagat showing up now does not seem likely. Maybe he'll make a cameo in #4, but we haven't seen any Balrog action yet, so he seems more likely to show up for some brawling before Sagat would.

Crusader

12-04-2003, 07:16 AM

I just wanna say that I did not like this comic after issue #1, but issues #2 and #3 were so fucking awesome. This is one of my favorite comics at the moment, right up there with Feather, Sentinel, and Ultimate Spider-Man.

PS - I wanna do Eliza.

ViciousSLASH

12-04-2003, 05:22 PM

I love the comic , art is spectacular , but does anyone feel like it's a bit short ?

I mean either the issue flies by so fast cause it's so good , or the issues are a lil on the short side.

Either way , excellent work , high fives for everyone.

TAS

12-04-2003, 06:32 PM

I love the comic , art is spectacular , but does anyone feel like it's a bit short ?

Udoneko explained that the issues are short because thats as long as they can be.

See comics are only allowed to be a certain number of pages, and given that the SF comics have back up stories, it makes the core story seem a little short, plus SF has such a large cast that the story has to keep shiffting back and fourth between characters, which makes it seem even shorter.

ViciousSLASH

12-04-2003, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by TAS

Udoneko explained that the issues are short because thats as long as they can be.

See comics are only allowed to be a certain number of pages, and given that the SF comics have back up stories, it makes the core story seem a little short, plus SF has such a large cast that the story has to keep shiffting back and fourth between characters, which makes it seem even shorter.

Ah , makes sense.

Carpet Lint

12-04-2003, 08:08 PM

I'd rather cut some of the letter pages and Rey's bit for more story, to be honest. But obviously that's my opinion as a fan - I don't know if the art team's up to it or if there's editorial problems with that, or whatever.

I love Rey and his section, but I just want more Street Fighter dammit! Plus, he's getting his own title, so I wouldn't feel too bad about cutting his one page of work each month.

Or at least lengthen the back-ups. Three pages is criminally short. Just enough to make me really enjoy it, but short enough to leave me feel cheated. More like the Black & Whites in Detective Comics. But I understand how hard it is already to get the caliber of artists you've gotten so far to do three pages at all. There going to be a J. Scott Campbell back-up coming up? I mean he already did a cover - how hard would a back-up be!?!

But regardless, I'm still loving this comic. And a big thanks to UDON (or Image or whatever) for changing the CDN prices accordingly to the market, to save me money.

TAS

12-05-2003, 03:53 AM

I'd rather cut some of the letter pages and Rey's bit for more story, to be honest. But obviously that's my opinion as a fan - I don't know if the art team's up to it or if there's editorial problems with that, or whatever.

The letters pages dont count as comic pages, so it wouldnt matter if they cut them, and Cheap Shots is only one page, so it wouldnt matter if they cut that either, ie one more page isnt gonna do anything for the comic/story.

Or at least lengthen the back-ups. Three pages is criminally short. Just enough to make me really enjoy it, but short enough to leave me feel cheated. More like the Black & Whites in Detective Comics. But I understand how hard it is already to get the caliber of artists you've gotten so far to do three pages at all. There going to be a J. Scott Campbell back-up coming up? I mean he already did a cover - how hard would a back-up be!?!

Yeah but if the back ups are longer then the main story will be shorter to the point where they are each the same length, which would be pointless.

JSC is more than likely doing a back up, there's already a thread about guest artists, in which people mentioned they wanted Eric LeSean to do a back up, and now we see that he is indeed doing one.

Carpet Lint

12-05-2003, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by TAS
The letters pages dont count as comic pages, so it wouldnt matter if they cut them, and Cheap Shots is only one page, so it wouldnt matter if they cut that either, ie one more page isnt gonna do anything for the comic/story.
Well I didn't actually count, but as long as there's 22 pages of comic, I'm happy.

I would think that cutting the letters and stuff would make more space for other non-comic pages though, like the back-up.

Yeah but if the back ups are longer then the main story will be shorter to the point where they are each the same length, which would be pointless.
Well I obviously don't want to cut the main story in favour for the back-up.

JSC is more than likely doing a back up, there's already a thread about guest artists, in which people mentioned they wanted Eric LeSean to do a back up, and now we see that he is indeed doing one.
Is Eric LeSean the artist on Dreamwave's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?